West Virginia and Kentucky have the nation’s highest levels of heart disease, according to a first of its kind study. The new research is the first to look at what percentage of people in each state live with or have survived heart attacks and certain other cardiac problems.

It found that states in the Southeast and Southwest were heart disease leaders.

For the nation as a whole, roughly 6.5% had had a heart attack, angina or coronary heart disease.

In West Virginia, more than 10% had at least one of the conditions. In Kentucky, it was nearly 9%, and Mississippi was No. 3, with 8%.

The prevalence in both Colorado and the District of Columbia was a little under 5%, tying them for the nation’s lowest rate.

[Read](http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-02-15-heart-disease_x.htm?csp=34 “Read the Story”)(AP via USA Today)